Phil

Well, finally things are back to normal after the sites first attack. It certainly wasn’t the worst scenario as it wasn’t a full scale hack per say, but just some mischievous injection of a code by someone from Russia after finding their IP address in the administrator control panel log. From Russia with Love? Actually, I have no idea whatsoever what this moron was trying to accomplish. The way Google and Norton made it out to be is that if one entered the site they would be infected with the boubonic plague! The insertion of the code from this idiot was nothing more than an occasional, if at all, pop-up and nothing more! However, I can't blame anyone from being frightened away from the site given the warning and its perfectly understandable. Site security is one thing, but this may have started with this s.o.b. gaining access to the server although my hosting company completely denies it and I’ve gained nothing more than good ‘ol political spin from them. Obviously, I have no control whatsoever over my server as that is the hosting company responsibility.

I’m not going to get into a tirade over my obsessive hatred for Norton but as the old saying goes; “Those that got the gold make the rules” and it would seem as though Norton feels that they own and run Internet security. They have become so invasive to the home computer industry as a whole that there are now numerous programs designed for the sole purpose of getting them off of one’s computer! Even though I knew I had tracked down the malicious iFrame injection and removed it from the site I could see that Norton in its infinite arrogance and self proclaimed ruler of Internet security still had this site listed as having 56 problems and being labeled as unsafe! So with that, I had to forget my stubbornness in bending to their will and jump through their hoops so get this site verified by them and then patiently wait to get the all clear and a clean bill of health to the God’s of the Internet. I only did so as there are so many people who continue to blindly use Norton that I had no other choice for the well being of this site lest that those people think the site as unsafe. I also had to get a re-evaluation from Google as it was they who placed in the; “Reported Attack Page!” label, or something of that sort all depending on what browser one may happen to use. I have the strongest suspicion that Google and Norton are “hooked’ up with each other, but be that as it may.

With that said, since this issue arose I now have the site scanned each and every day for malware with a dependable program albeit it does not seem to detect malicious iFrame injections, or at least it has not as far as I know seeing that I implemented it during the unfortunate issue and before it was resolved. I’ve also now made it a point to religiously look into the Administrator log each day to see what IP addresses have logged in. Obviously, the only IP address that I should see are mine. However, when this problem was detected I noticed not only our Russian friend, but two others! One was from the Ukraine and the other from Luxemburg. So with that I must inform you that I took it upon myself to do a drastic measure. Over the years I’ve banned many IP addresses for reasons that involved nothing more than inserting foreign advertisements. However, these were what one would call as “specific” IP addresses as I certainly did not wish to ban an entire country! Just about everyone has what is called a “Dynamic” IP address, including me. These addresses’ usually change each time you log into the computer albeit the first few digits remain the same as to designating the location. In this instance I have done what is called a “wild card” IP ban with the IP addresses that have invaded the site. In essence, I have banned a good portion of Russia, the Ukraine and Luxemburg from ever entering this site. But, I seriously doubt that this particular site would gain many, if at all any members from those countries and from my experience when those particular countries log in it has always been nothing more than trouble. Bottom line, drastic times call for drastic measures and as time goes on I’ll certainly revaluate this and then perhaps become more lax. The only IP address that I will watch closely in the near future and possibly not be too strict as to being overly encompassing to the area is Luxemburg, but only time will be the true test. I only felt it right that I inform you of this, but as said this will be revaluated as time goes on and then perhaps relaxed as I certainly do not wish to ban, and or be offensive to any country. If you should have any questions or concerns please feel free to send me a PM.

Kind Regards, Phil

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I started out with nothing....and still have most of it.
"Its hell out there, give them hell back." ~ Prowler/Victor Gray 12/31/1943 - 11/24/2008